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Riverton council approves animal-control ordinance on first reading, narrows wording to remove shelter name
Summary
On May 19, the Riverton City Council adopted ordinance 26‑004 on first reading to tighten rules on animals running at large and to clarify abandonment. Council amended the draft to remove one shelter’s name and add discretion for officers, and members discussed safeguards for owners unable to pay impound fees.
Riverton — The Riverton City Council on May 19 approved on first reading ordinance 26‑004, a set of amendments to the city’s animal-control code intended to clarify the definitions of “abandon” and improve enforcement tools for animals running at large or creating a nuisance.
The ordinance, introduced by the police department, gives officers the ability to issue a municipal notice to appear in court for violations and clarifies procedures for impoundment and owner notification. Police staff told the council the change is meant to promote responsible pet ownership and reduce recurring shelter intakes.
Council discussion focused on two practical concerns: whether naming the local shelter in the ordinance would make the code brittle over time, and how enforcement would treat owners who attempt to reclaim animals but cannot immediately pay impound fees. Council amended the draft to remove a named shelter reference and instead use the term “a local animal shelter,” a change supported by the council and moved and seconded in open session.
Councilwoman Karen Johnson and others urged care in applying criminal penalties. "If they can't afford it and they came to claim the animal, we should not criminally charge someone who simply cannot pay," Johnson said during the hearing. Animal-control officer Shannon Sanderson, who handles most impounds, described typical practice: officers post written door notices when they pick up an animal, try to contact owners directly, and often return animals to owners the same day when possible. "I do everything in my power to get them to avoid that and get them home," Sanderson said.
Council members and staff discussed operational safeguards that were not all written into the ordinance, including the possibility of reasonable payment arrangements for owners who cannot immediately pay impound fees and a plan to reserve criminal citation for repeat or egregious offenders. Councilwoman Rebecca Brothers asked officers and shelter partners to develop consistent procedures addressing these edge cases before the ordinance returns for a subsequent reading.
The council voted on first reading in favor of ordinance 26‑004 after the amendment removing the shelter name; the council did not take final action on second reading at the May 19 meeting. Staff said further operational guidance and any fee schedules related to impound and surrender charges would be reflected in administrative resolutions or operating agreements, not in the ordinance text itself.
What happens next: The ordinance passed first reading and will return for the required further readings and final adoption. Council members asked staff to bring back clarified guidance on payment arrangements and the shelter’s intake process so the public sees how the new citation authority will be used in practice.
